He came as light (Wednesday, Easter 4, 2021)

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Over the past few weeks, we have come across gospel stories of Jesus employing certain imageries or things common to the people of His time in order to teach or help them understand who He is. He describes Himself as bread (cf. Jn. 6) and shepherd (cf. Jn. 10); next Sunday, we will hear Him describe Himself as the true vine (cf. Jn. 15). In Jn. 12:44-50, amongst other things, He describes Himself as the light that has come into the world so that anyone who believes in Him may not remain in darkness.


As a great teacher, Jesus was truly the light; and that is why the greater part of His earthly ministry was all about enlightenment: leading the people out of the darkness of ignorance, especially the ignorance of the law and the prophets. He came as light but people preferred darkness to light (cf. Jn. 3:19).


We should now understand why He was persecuted and eventually killed. It is not easy to adjust to light when we stay long in the dark. To those who are used to darkness, light may seem to be dazzling and threatening at the outset. That is why agents of darkness seem to be resistant to light. That is why they persecuted and killed Jesus the light.


After His death, resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, that resistance to light continued in the form of persecutions which Jesus’ followers endured. They were persecuted because they were carriers of light: they went about proclaiming the word of God which is light, proclaiming Jesus who is the light of the world. Despite the persecutions, they continue to preoccupy themselves with the ministry of proclaiming the light, moving from place to place in the strength of the Holy Spirit.


In our time, people are still deeply engulfed in the darkness of ignorance: ignorance of Jesus, His identity and His mission. Ignorance seems to be the major setback that we face as Christians. The sad reality is that ignorance of whatever form is deadly. Jesus identified Himself first as light (cf. Jn. 1:5ff) and began His public ministry by enlightening the people through the proclamation of the word of God (cf. Mk. 1:14-15).


The main problem is that many of us still want to remain in darkness. When I see or hear horrible things people do in the name of God, I understand more clearly how deeply we have been engulfed by ignorance. Jesus is the Light. Let’s go to Him that we may see and understand. Let's read the Scriptures and ask for the enlightenment of the Spirit.


Prayer:

Lord, help us to see and understand!


Have a blessed day!



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